Camellias tea house blog

A lovely blog post by the Social Beautify

Friday, July 01, 2011

Where to get a good 'cuppa' if you have a thing for tea.

A few weeks ago, at lunchtime, my friend took me for a short
walk to show me something she thought I would love.

She took me into Kingly Court in Soho, up two flights of stairs
and across a walkway into the door of a delightful little teashop,
which I had no idea even existed. I was ecstatic as soon as I
realised it was a teashop she was taking me too, mainly because I
love tea! I was struck by the broad range of tea available and the
quirky design. I was also very lucky as I met Lubna Madan the
founder of Camellias's Tea House. We arranged a date for me to come
back some time and talk about tea.

A month later I went back to Camellia's
Tea House and met Lubna as planned. Lubna is a qualified
Homeopath combining knowledge and passion to create her own herbal
infusions. All her tea and herbs come from tea gardens around the
world and there are over 120 different teas to choose from in her
tearoom.

I first had the pleasure of trying White Apricot, which
was a delicate and refreshing drink. It is a white tea with dried
apricot pieces, mullein flowers, marigold flowers and yellow rose
buds. We then tried some Beautiful Skin. This is a
very light infusion that I could drink any time. The tea is made of
chickweed, red clover, nettle, dandelion, marigold, chamomile and
rose. The idea behind all the herbal infusions is to create a tea
that is going to be good for you whilst being tasty, so we can
truly enjoy the moment.

With 120 teas to choose from, it's going to take me probably
quite a while to try them all. I was given a couple of Lubna's
favourite blends to try at home though. These were White
Harmony and Dancing Rose &
Violet. The former is truly sensational; it has got
lavender as one of the ingredients, which for me gives it a
powerful and delicate taste. This tea is great to relax with,
whilst the latter is perfect for a fresh start to the day.

I couldn't resist treating myself to some tea making gadgets as
well. Lubna has a great collection of essential tea
making implements for sale, which allow you to make
the perfect brew at home. I left with a thermometer so I can brew
my tea at the optimum temperature. I also bought a new infuser and
obviously, some tea. This time though it was something different
from the norm…Chocolate Tea! It's made of
black tea, broken cocoa bits, coconut shreds, chocolate chips and
tastes absolutely divine. It really makes my front room and kitchen
smell yum!

Camellia's Tea House also offer 'afternoon tea'. This is
ideal for an ultimate 'tea break' with friends. Served on a
three-tier cake stand you will find finger sandwiches on the
bottom, warm scones served with clotted cream with strawberry jam
on the middle and a slice of cake from Camellia's selection on the
top tier. Of course this also comes with a pot of tea (or coffee)
of your choice all for £15.95… Bargain! Remember there are
120 teas to choose from though so don't be afraid to ask for some
advice.

Did I enjoy my trip to Camellias's Tea House? Absolutely! I
learnt so much about tea from Lubna and I was so moved by her
passion. I genuinely recommend visiting Lubna's tearoom, where you
you'll be able to open a few jars, smell the beautiful scents and
If you like it, you can buy a bag or two to take home. Don't worry…
all the teas come with the necessary information on how to brew
them.